Device extending the sides of various packaging articles



' y 1965 EVJ. POLITZER 3,193,065

DEVICE EXTENDING THE SIDES OF VARIOUS PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Dec. 27, 1961 F i $.10 22 1m 1m um Wu United States Patent 3,193,065 DEVICE EXTENDING THE SIDES 0F VARIGUS PACKAGING ARTICLES Eugene Jim Pulitzer, 65 Rue Joufiroy, Paris, France Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,472 Claims priority, application France, Jan. 4, 1961, 848,803, Patent 1,284,638 Claims. (Cl. 190-41) The present invention relates to a device extending the sides of various packing articles so as to enable the correct placing of the objects contained in the packing, even when these objects are in a greater number than originally provided for. This is of particular interest for trunks and suitcases, the straps of which currently used do not sufiiciently obviate the disadvantage mentioned above and which very often leads to some difficulty in closing the lid of the suitcase or trunk. This frequently results, when pressure is applied for closing the lid, in clothes becoming crumpled, bottles broken, articles damaged and even clothes items protruding over the sides of the suitcase or trunk.

The device according to the invention obviates these disadvantages and is characterised in a combination of a packaging element, comprising a box, a lid hinged on this box, flexible strips fastened inside the box and forming extensions for its sides adapted to contain objects above the edges of the box and turned down on the latter before closing the lid.

Various other features of the invention will become apparent by the following detailed description.

Some embodiments of the invention are shown, by way of non-restrictive examples, in the attached drawing.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase provided with the device for extending its sides.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section of the suitcase.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the 'suitacase of FIG. 2 taken along the line IIIIII in FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section of another alternative embodiment of this extending device.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 5, taken along the line VIVI in FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view showing the marginal parts of the FIG. 5 embodiment enclosure.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are sections of other alternative embodiments of the device.

FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 shows plan and perspective views of suitcases provided with the device, FIGS. 11 and 12 being in the open or closed position, respectively.

In FIGURE 1, a suitcase 1 is shown comprising a bottom-part 2 to be closed by a lid 3. The suitcase 1 is provided with a handle 4 and two locks 5. Integral strips 6a, 6b and integral strips 7a, 7b are arranged to form an enclosure, the first one lengthwise in the suitcase and higher than the two sides 2a, 2b of the bottom 2 of this suitcase to form the two side flaps 6a, 6b and the second in the width of said suitcase also longer than the height of the front and back sides 20, 2d of the bottom 2 to form the two flaps 7a, 7b. Rings 8 are fixed on the upper periphery of an enclosure formed by the flaps 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, and a cord h enables the enclosure to be closed by turning down said flaps. The enclosure may be advantageously made of one and the same strip, the edges of which may be held together by any suitable means, e.g., hooks, press-buttons, cord-s, previous stitching, etc. Thus, even if the objects placed in the bottom 2 of the suitcase should rise beyond the height of the side walls of the suitcase these objects are shut in the above-mentioned enclosure and do not hinder the closing of the lid 3. In FIGURE 4 the periphery of the enclosure comprises a hem 10 containing a cord 11. The working of this part above the sides of the suitcase is identical with that already described.

In FIGURES 5 to 7, the extensions 12, 13 placed along the sides 2a, 2b of the suitcase are connected by webbings 14, 15 which rest on the lower part of the bottom 2 of the suitcase. The length of this webbing can be adjusted by means of buckles, for example. Likewise, extensions 16, 17 placed along the sides 20, 2d of the suitcase are regulated by webbing 18, 19. The extensions 12, 13, 16 and 17 are either sewn or connected by any suitable means to each other, so as to cover the sides 2a to 2d of the suitcase and go beyond its height, as already explained with the embodiment, already described. This device works exactly in the same manner as the preceding one, the ends of the projecting parts being .able to comprise cord guiding means, e.g., either rings, or a hem, capable of receiving a cord for closing the enclosure formed by the bottom of the suitcase heightened by the flaps, before closing the lid 3.

In FIGURE 8, a frame 20a is put in position by elastic deformation under a frame border 20b, normally integral with the bottom part 2 of the suitcase. Flaps 21 surrounding the bottom are fixed on the frame 20a. In FIGURE 9, the flaps 22 are held between the bottom 2 and a peripheral flange 20c of the latter, made of U-shaped metal and fixed by pinching or clipping.

In FIGURE 10, the device is shown closed from the top after having drawn the two ends of the cord 24 together.

In FIGURE 11, the flaps 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b each comprise a braid 25 enabling them to be turned down and kept closed, by making knots or loops, on the top of the bottom 2 of the suitcase. It will be seen that the flaps are of trapezoidal shape, for, if they are rectangular, as shown in FIGURE 10, it is particularly advantageous to provide pleats for facilitating the correct covering of the bottom.

In FIGURE 12, the flaps 26 are connected by a zip fastener 27, whereas the side flaps 28 are engaged under the longitudinal flaps 26.

The dimensions of the flaps depend on the size of the packaging. Nevertheless, the fan-shape of the devices whose dimensions are different may be limited, to make one and the same device capable of being utilized for approximate lengths and widths of packaging.

In the foregoing, it was stated that the flaps or extensions were particularly used for closing a suitcase; this device may, however, be also used for various other packag-ings, e.g., .as trunks, cases, e'tc. used for transporting various goods.

The flaps or extensions can be made of any suitable materials, for example, natural or synthetic fabric, sheets or plastic, natural or synthetic materials, leather,

etc.

The attachment of the flaps or extensions to the packaging can be that stated above, but other means can also be employed.

In all cases, the contents of packagings is flattened and held evenly and uniformly tightened, while facilitating the positioning of the lid. These packagings, and in particular, suitcases and trunks, can be opened during transport for easily removing any object wanted whereby it is only necessary to open the lid and turn back the extensions so as to be able to take the article sought, then after completely closing the extension, the lid can be easily closed again.

Various modifications can be applied to the forms of embodiment of the invention, shown and described above, without leaving the scope of the invention.

, I claim: 7

1. In combination, a packaging element comprising a box-shaped container, a lidhinged on said box-shaped container, at least two separate flexible strips, fastened inside said container and each strip forming two opposed flaps extending above the sides ofsaid container to form an enclosure for the objects to be packaged within said container, said flaps being formedby saidtwo separate strips arranged lengthwise and transversely to the bottom wall of the container-at the flap ends, so that adjacent flaps are separate and closure elements fixed at the upper periphery of the enclosure. 7 I

2. Packaging element, comprising a box-shaped; container, a lid hinged on said box shaped container, at least two separate flexible strips'fasten'ed inside said container and each strip forming twoopposed flaps extending above the sides of said container .to form an enclosure for the objects to be packaged, saidfflaps being formed by said separate strips arranged lengthwise and transversely the enclosure formed by the flaps. v

3. In combination, a packaging element, comprisinga ,container, alid hinged on said container, at least two separate flexible strips fastened inside said container to form a bottom lining and a box-shaped tray, said bottom-lining being fastened to the bottom of said container, opposed flaps'extending from each of said flexible strips beyond the upper'edges of the walls of'said container to forman enclosure for the objects to be packed, each of said flaps being separate from the adjacent flaps and comprising a.

hem formed on the'upper opposed edges of each of said integral strips to enclose a cord for securing the load of said container on drawing together the same.

-,the strips and a cord being guided by the ringsto close 4.111 combination, a packaging element, comprising a container, a lid hinged on said container, a flexible enclosure formed by at least four webbings fastened to the bottomof said container and by four articulated flexible lateral strips, each two: of which are secured to opposite ends of two webbings and which form an inlet inside the walls of said container which extends ,higher than the walls of said container, two of said Webbings extending in the longitudinal direction and two in the transverse direction of the container andthus being displaced to each other by an angle of 90, and closure means including cord guiding meaiis at the upper edge of said'strips of said enclosure, and a cord guided in said rings.

7 y 5. In combination, a packing element comprising a box-shapedcontainer, a lid hinged on said container, separate flexible strips 'fastened-in'said container and extending beyond the upper edges of its upper walls, each of said strips being articulated in the form of separate flexible trapezoidal members comprising at their edges fastening means for maintaining said flaps assembled after having them turned down on the contents of said containers.

' References titer! by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,853 1/17 Huggins 2 190-51 1,617,699, 2/27 Berg 190-412 2,006,971, 1 7/35 Verdini 190 42 2,212,390 8/40 Conklin .150-43 30, 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 475,085 4/15' France, 805,908 6/51 Germany. 852,130 10/52 Germany. 3 GEORGE o. RALSTON,Prin1arLy Examiner.

I DONALD R. SCHRAN, Examiner, 

1. IN COMBINATION, A PACKAGING ELEMENT COMPRISING A BOX-SHAPED CONTAINER, A LID HINGED ON SAID BOX-SHAPED CONTAINER, AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE FLEXIBLE STRIPS FASTENED INSIDE SAID CONTAINER AND EACH STRIP FORMING TWO OPPOSED FLAPS EXTENDING ABOVE THE SIDES OF SAID CONTAINER TO FORM AN ENCLOSURE FOR THE OBJECTS TO BE PACKAGED WITHIN SAID CON- 